Mail-bag



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '1. J. E. DENNIS, Jr.

MAIL BAG. No. 375,805. 7 gatented Jan. 3', 1888.

g o I (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MAIL BAG.

Patented Jan. 8,

N. PETERS. Phnwmho fi ner. Washin ton. D. C.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EVERETT DENNIS, JR, OF GLENBEULAH, VISCONSIN.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,805, dated January 3, 1888 Application filed November 3, 1887. Serial No. 254124. (No model.) i i To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, J GEN EVERETT DENNIS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Glenbeulah, in the county of Sheboygan and State of \rVisconsin, have invented a new and useful improvement in Mail-Bag Heads and Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to an improvement in mail-bag heads and fasteners; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully. set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims;

r In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view ota mail-bag provided with my improvements, the bag being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bag partially opened. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the bag entirely opened. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the bag.

A represents the bag, which is of the usual form and size, and is provided with cuts a in its upper portion, at diametrieally-opposite points,to permit the top ofthe bag to be folded in. To opposite sides of the mouth of the bag are secured metallic arms B, to the outer ends of which are hinged arms 0, as shown. One of the said hinged arms 0 of each pair is provided on its inner side,near its inner end,with a projecting lug, D, which is adapted to bear against the opposing inner side of its companion arm 0 when the said arms are folded togetherin the position indicated in Fig. 1.

E represents a pair of links, to which the outer ends of t-hearm G arepivotally connected, as shown, and the said links are each provided with outwardextending arms F, having slots G adapted to fit over a staple, H, which is se cured to and projects inwardly from the mouth of the bag at a point midway between the slits a. The said links E are provided on their outer sides with projecting studs 1, which are adapted to engage semicircular notches K, made in the opposing edges of the pairs of arms 0, when the said arms come together in the position indicated in Fig. 1. The function of these studs I is to prevent the slotted linkplates E from turning on the ends of the arms 0 when the said arms are closed together, thereby causing the said link-plates E to be always so arranged that the slots therein will pass over bag are riveted dopble thicknesses of strips of leather or other suitable material,L, the function of the said strips being to strengthen the mouth of the bag and prevent the same from bending and assuming a curved form. By

reason of these reenforced strips the opposite sides ofthe mouth ofthe bag are kept parallel V at all times, and when the mouth of the bag is closed it forms a plane or [lat-surface on which the arms 0 may be folded in order to engage the staple and lock the bag.

vided at its central portion with aslotted opening, M, and tags bearing the names of the terminal stations of the route on which the bag is used are placed betweeuthe opposing sides of the said strips L and are exposed to view through the openings M, as shown.

0 represents clamps, each of which is made from a single piece of sheet metal ofsuitable form, bent over the edges of the pair of re-enforce strips L, so as to embrace the same and secure the said strips firmly together, and thereby retain the tags in place. The said clamps are provided with ears P, which register with each other when the clamps are applied to the strips, and rivets R are passed through the said ears and through the strips, as shown, thereby firmly securing the clamps in place. By this arrangement the mail-bag is provided with tags which are distinctly visible when the bag'is lying on the floor or on the table or hung up on a hook, which is a matter of great convenience to postal agents and others connected with the postal service.

To one side of the mouth of the mail-bag is secured a flap, S, or the said flap may be formed integrally with the mail-bag, as preferred. The said flap is adapted to fold across the mouth of the bag when the latter is closed and before the locking-arms O are folded down thereon, and is provided with a re-enforced metallic strip, T, the said strip being riveted thereto and having a slot in its center to engage a staple, H.

The bag is provided near its upper end with The inner strip or thick ness of leather of each pair L is pro.

ill

a strap-loop, U, by which it is readily carried, and is also provided at its bottom with a straploop, V, for the same purpose, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my invention will be very readily understood. When the mouth of the bag is closed, the flap S is folded across the same and caused to engage the staple, and the arms 0 are then folded down over the [lap and the slots in their link-plates E are caused to engage the staple, and a padlock, such as are now commonly employed for this purpose, is secured to the staple, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby effectually securing the bag. When the bag is open, the sides of its mouth swing away from each other, so as to turn the arms 0 on the pivots, which connect them to the linkplates in a horizontal position, thereby distending the mouth of the bag to its fullest extent, as shown in Fig. 3, and preventing any mail matter from remaining in the bag when the same is inverted. The said pivotally-connected arms Okeep the mouth of the bag distended when hung on a rack or distributingtable to receive the mail matter as the sameis thrown into the bag.

The improvements hereinbefore described may be attached to sacks for papers or to the old mail-bags nowin use without the necessity of reconstructing the same, it being only necessary, in order to attach my improvements to the old bags, to cut down the mouths of the same below the eyeletholes and rivet on a piece of leather in order to make the bag the requisite length, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A mail-bag having the two pairs of reenforce strips on opposite sides of its month, one of the said strips of each pair having a slot or opening, and the tags secured between the opposing sides of the pairs of strips and exposed through the slots therein, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a mail-bag, of the arms B, secured to opposite sides of its mouth, the arms 0, hinged to the arms B, and the link-plates E, pivotally connected to the inner ends of the said arms 0, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with a mailbag having its mouth re-enforced or strengthened on opposite sides, for the purpose set forth, and the hinged arms 0, connected to the sides of the mouth of the bag, and the plates E, pivotally connecting their inner ends together, whereby the mouth of the bag may be distended, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with the mail-bag having the staple on one side of its mouth and provided with the inflexible parallel re-enforce strips L on opposite sides of its mouth, for the purpose'set forth, of the flap extending from one side of the mouth of the bag, adapted to fit over the same and provided with an opening to engage the staple, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with the mail-bag head, of the arms (3, pivoted to opposite sides thereof, the staple secured to one side of the head, and the link-plates E, pivotally connected to the inner end of the hinged arms 0, and having the slots to engage the staple when the said arms are folded on the closed head of the bag, substantially as described.

6. In a mail-bag head, the combination of the hinged-arms 0, having the recesses K in their opposing edges, and the slotted linkplate E, pivotally connected to the inner end of arms 0, and having the studs I, adapted to engage the recesses K when the arms come together, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

' 7. The combination, with a mail-bag head, of the hinged arms 0, having their inner ends pivotally connected together, one of the said arms 0 of each pair having a projecting lug, B, adapted to engage its companion arm when the arms 0 are folded together, substantially as described.

8. The mail bag having the staple H in one side of its mouth and the flap S on the opposite, adapted to close over the mouth of the bag and engage the, staple, the arms 0, pivoted to opposite sides of the mouth of the bag, and the link-plates E, connecting the inner ends of said arms and having the slots to also engage the staple when the said arms 0 and link-plates are folded down over the flap, substantially as described.

9. In a mail-bag, the combination of the hinged arms 0, connected to the sides of the mouth of the bag and having their inner ends pivotally connected together, whereby the mouth of the bag may be distended, and the link-plates E, connected to the arms 0, as set forth.

10. A mail-beg having the re-enforced strips L on each side of the mouth of thebag, between which strips the tags are fitted, and the clamps O, fitted over the re-enforce strips for holding the tags in place, as set forth.

- In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in pres ence of two witnesses.

JOHN EVERETT DENNIS, JR.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SLADE, ANNA DENNIS.

IIO 

